Monument record 9041 - Saxon Period Defensive Ditch, St John Street

During a watching brief carried out at the site of the former Library on St John St. between 1988 and 1989, what was interpreted as a Saxon cutting of a defensive ditch along the line of the former Roman defences, was identified (1). After collapse of Roman masonry wall (CHER 8206/2), the cutting of a new defensive ditch occurred, slightly in advance of the former wall line, entailed removal of the majority of the tumbled masonry. The dimensions of the ditch were estimated at about 12m wide and 3m deep, and it appears to have been part of a programme of works to re-establish the effectiveness of the defences following the Roman period. This ditch eventually filled with silt, that on excavation proved to have no finds, at which time medieval features were erected and a new ditch was cut (1). It is thought that the Saxon ditch was completely filled by the time the city walls were constructed c1150; recognising that the early fourth century re-building of the fortress wall likely lasted for some time before collapse, the excavators suggested a date between c AD 650 and 1100 for the cutting of this defensive ditch (1).

<1> Mason, D. J. P., 1994/5, 'And the Walls came Tumbling Down': Excavations Adjacent to the City Walls in St John Street 1988/9 (Article in Journal). SCH5840.

<2> Gaimster D, Margeson S & Barry T, 1989, Medieval Britain and Ireland in 1988 (Article in Journal). SCH5630.

<3> LeQuesne C, 1999, Excavations at Chester: The Roman and Later Defences Part I (Monograph). SCH6156.

<4> Chester Archaeology, Miscellaneous notes from Chester Archaeology (Written Communication). SCH6630.

<5> Mason, D. J. P., 1989, Excavations on the site of the former Public Library Buildings, St John Street, Chester Roman - Late Saxon Phases (Unpublished Report). SCH6875.